View to die for!The view is stunning. I could stay up here all day! In fact it is like an eyrie. Noises waft in from the surrounding olive groves and up the valley from the town far below. It is so quiet and calm, next to the gem-like pool and gardens. Both kitchen and living room open onto the avli, providing flow between indoors and out. Lovely arrangement of bedrooms, each with balcony access. All in all, a really well thought out retreat: comfortable, clean, well provisioned... But the view is to die for! Evie P. Fredericton Canada

Guest Reviews

We know that you have many choices for your vacation rental in Crete and we are delighted when people chose Villa Calista. . . our guests seem to love it for the same reasons we do: the peaceful private setting, the beautiful countryside, and all the comforts of home.

We are thrilled to share some of our recent guest reviews!

Not enough superlatives for this placeFrom the geckos on the hot stone walls to the hammock in the olive grove to the ethereal blue glow of the pool at night: this place was magical. Thank you, Nancy, for making this place a home for others -- and thank you for all the time you took answering my jittery, pre-trip questions. We really do hope to return, someday. Caitlin S, Toronto Canada

Amazing location with wonderful views of the sea!I had a wonderful stay at Villa Calista. The house is situated in the hills overlooking the seaside village of Almyrida, and affords a sweeping view of Souda Bay to the north, and the majestic White Mountains to the south. The grounds are beautiful, with a manicured back garden, pool and olive grove in the back yard. The interior is modern and functional, but it's the outdoor spaces that truly make this a paradise retreat. In nearby Almyrida, there are dozens of tavernas and restaurants serving up authentic Greek meals as well as a bakery and independent grocer that sell amazing and fresh products. This is a great home-base for a variety of explorations into western Crete, a short 30 minute drive to the West will take you to the busy port city of Chania, and another 30-40 minutes east will bring you to the more artsy city of Rethymnon. Check out the old Venetian walled cities in each of these places for some amazing shopping and dining. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I will definitely be returning

Other reviews have summarized the more obvious attributes of Villa Calista: the orchards, the view, the pool (an absolute godsend after a hot day's hiking, a luminous alien bean of brightness at night). The well-appointed kitchen, the overall spotless maintenance. All of these accolades are well-deserved, and I will not waste your time repeating them here. Instead, I'll list a few of the less obvious features of the place:

The perfect place for a Cretan holiday!We had a lovely two week stay at Villa Calista and it certainly lives up to its name! The property

is stunning: expansive view over Souda Bay and the White Mountains, new pool, lovely landscaping

including an olive grove, and an outdoor shaded terrace for relaxing or dining. The house is modern, spotless clean, comfortable and has everything you need. The owners Bob and Nancy, have thought of every detail to make your stay comfortable. Upon arrival we were greeted with a welcome basket of goodies, including fresh local bread! We have rented several Homeaway properties in the past including Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, and the Florida keys. This was by far our best rental experience yet. Do not hesitate to book, you will not be disappointed!Allison T, Vermont USA

Highly recommended ! Wonderful place.Villa Callista was everything we'd hoped it would be, and more. The villa is clean, the grounds beautifully kept and the whole place is well maintained inside and out. We appreciated having a local person we could call on for help or questions as they arose; she was friendly, helpful and prompt on the rare occasions we needed anything. All in all, we had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend. Worth every penny. Heather W Ottawa Canada

Villa Calista is all the owners promiseAs I had read on the website, the villa is "secluded but not isolated". Upon arrival, I could hardly believe the view from the patio of Souda Bay below me. The blue of the pool matched the blue of the sky. The villa lived up to what the owners promise. There is so much to see in Crete, particularly in the historic cities of Chania and Rhythemnon. I am still talking about my visit and still enjoying the memories of my many adventures.

Linda W. Moncton Canada

A Villa Worth Killing For!

1. Geckos. Adorable skittering lizards that you will never catch, and which are probably responsible for keeping the bug population down (at least, we were never plagued by insect bites).2. The stars. We spent hours on the rooftop terrace, staring up at constellations you'll never see in the light-polluted environs most of you hail from. 3. A hammock. Down in the olive grove. Holds two comfortably, assuming they're intimate. Once you get in, you'll never want to leave. Except to get into the pool.4. Centuries-old ruins, visible from the terrace.5. An alleged badger/family of weasels. We never saw them, although not for want of trying. Apparently they hang out just across the property line.6. Goats. They wander by occasionally. They have strange, octopus-like eyes. They rock.

If none of these small wonders turn your crank, you can still luxuriate in what has to be the most relaxing, comfortable, and gorgeous hideaway I've been to in decades. We hope to return, sooner rather than later. In fact, we briefly considered lying in wait for the next residents and killing them so we could have their slot.